Gold nanoparticle as an alternative tool for a urine pregnancy test.
OBJECTIVE
The urine pregnancy test is an easily available diagnostic test in the present day and is routinely performed. The test is based on an immunochromatography technique. Here, we used an advanced nanomedicine technique for modification of the urine pregnancy test.


METHODS
The preparation of gold nanoparticle solution in this study followed the standard method. We performed an experiment on both pregnancy-positive and -negative urine samples. First, a mixture with an equal amount (500 microliters) of gold nanoparticle solution and urine sample was prepared. Then, it was further tested for pregnancy by the urine pregnancy test strip.


RESULTS
The pregnancy-positive mixture became pink, while the pregnancy-negative mixture became gray. The urine pregnancy test strip for a positive mixture had two lines, while the negative mixture had one line.


CONCLUSIONS
This application can help the diagnosis of pregnancy and can be an alternative method for a urine pregnancy test. To our knowledge, this is the first report on this application.
Rojanathanes
Rojrit
R
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sereemaspun
Amornpun
A
Pimpha
Nuttaporn
N
Buasorn
Vanida
V
Ekawong
Prapawadee
P
Wiwanitkit
Viroj
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013785:Thailand; D016482:Urinalysis; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
D006046:Gold